Well-wishers raise £160,000 for police officer after wife and children killed in fire

More than £160,000 has been raised for a policeman who has ‘nothing left’ after his wife and two children died in a house fire on Boxing Day.

Tom Shearman tried to rescue his family who were trapped inside the devastating blaze at their family home in Brimscombe, near Stroud, Gloucestershire.

His wife, Fionnghuala Shearman, known as Nu, died alongside her daughter, Eve, aged seven, and four-year-old son Ohner.

Tom, who is a serving police officer in Gloucestershire Constabulary, was taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged.

A GoFundMe campaign was set up for the husband on Sunday, with almost 7,000 people contributing more than £160,000.

The original £110,000 target has since been increased to £190,000 after the ‘phenomenal’ support from the public.

The fire, which took off in the early hours of Boxing Day, caused the roof of the mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage to fall in, while the ceilings and stairs have also collapsed.

The fire is understood to have started on the ground floor and is not being treated as suspicious.

Det Supt Ian Fletcher described how the parents were woken by the fire and tried to reach their children in the back bedroom.

He said: ‘Due to the ferocity of the intense fire, the parents were unable to get to the bedroom.

‘The father smashed his way out of the house via a bathroom window in order to try and get to the children’s bedroom from the outside, however he was unable to do so.

‘When he returned to the bathroom, the fire had spread and despite all of his determined efforts, he was unable to re-enter the home via any point in which he tried.’

DSI Fletcher said there were ‘multiple witnesses who describe the anguish that he was going through, his inability to get in and save his children and save his wife.’

The body of one child has since been located at the scene.

Police said they are still working to recover the second child’s body, but the property’s unstable condition means officers have to proceed with caution.

Lucy, who set up the GoFundMe, said:  ‘Tom is now facing an unimaginable period of grief alongside the very real and immediate practical reality of having nothing left.

‘This fund has been set up to help support them with the practical needs he’s facing now and in the months ahead – including emergency accommodation, clothing and essentials, time away from work and the many unexpected costs that arise during a period like this.’

The fundraiser has now received more than £160,000 from 6,900 people.

Victoria Armstrong, who is also coordinating the fundraiser, thanked well-wishers for their support.

She said: ‘The loss to the families, friends and our community is almost unbearable but what Tom has already gone through, and now faces is unimaginable.

‘Our wonderful community has shown that they are here for Tom and the families in a very real, very meaningful way.

‘The support this fund has received in a little over 24 hours is phenomenal.

‘We respectfully request that the privacy of the family, friends & community is respected at this horrific time.

‘With love and in heartbreak, may we slowly start to heal together.’

A cordon remains in place at the address, and an emergency services presence is expected to continue for several days as the site is structurally unstable.

A friend described what happened as ‘absolutely shocking’ to the Daily Mail.

She said: ‘We are all shellshocked to be honest with you. We don’t know what happened [to cause the fire].’

Another family friend said the tragedy was ‘dreadful.’

A spokesperson for the Gloucestershire Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said: ‘This is an unimaginable tragedy to have struck a colleague and their family and our hearts are broken for them.

‘It is impossible for us all to properly comprehend and come to terms with what has happened.

‘The Federation are offering as much support as is possible to our colleague at this deeply saddening time.

‘We are also supporting devastated colleagues and teammates of the officer concerned.

‘We know the whole police family across the UK – indeed the whole of the UK – will be offering their condolences.

‘And we thank those who have already passed on their thoughts and support. It is appreciated.’

Mrs Shearman was born in Cheltenham and ran a successful business making canvas and leather bags.

As founder and designer of her firm, Hide & Hammer Ltd, she announced earlier this month that its workshop would be closed for the foreseeable future.

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